How to Write a Love Letter to Your Future Startup Employee

August 6, 2013

1:00 pm

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As the CEO and primary hiring manager of your startup, you want the brightest, most talented employees. When you’re searching for new employees, you probably look for people who not only have the skills and experience you desire in an excellent employee, but also the passion for your company. What if you could write a love letter to a future startup employee explaining how they are the best fit for your startup?

This love letter would describe the qualities you look for in an employee and how you would make them feel valued by your company. If you wrote this letter, would you praise them for their intelligence and talent? Or would you tell them how much you appreciate their passion? When hiring employees for your startup, there are many skills and characteristics you have to consider. By writing this letter, you could discover the qualities you truly value in an employee.

Now, when you write this letter, it doesn’t have to be addressed to a specific person. Actually, this letter doesn’t have to be viewed by any other eyes but your own! This love letter is simply a tool to discover what you want out of an employee and the expectations of your work relationship with them.

Open your letter with why you are writing.

This part of the love letter will illustrate your purpose for hiring the employee and why you believe they are an excellent fit for your company. Highlight the skills and experience that make them a great employee for your startup. Be sure mention how you believe their talent will contribute to the success of your startup.

It’s also important to explain why you believe their passion is exactly what your startup is looking for. Remember, you want your future employee to love what you do, so make sure you illustrate why you believe their passion aligns with yours.

Show how much you appreciate the employee.

The second part of letter will explain how you will show employees how your startup values their talent, work ethic, and dedication. Consider the following questions for inspiration writing this section: What about the employee’s work ethic do you appreciate? Why do you value your talents? These questions will help you explain to your future employee why they will be an asset to the company and how you will reward them for their hard work and dedication.

Talk about your future together.

Just like a real love letter, this can be a scary section to write. While you want to have your best employees spend their careers with your startup, someday you may have to take the risk of losing them. However, the point of this section is to explain to the employee that, once you hire them, your hope is they will want to grow with your company. The closing of your letter will help you explain to your future employee how you want them to continue their career with your startup.

By writing a love letter to your future startup employee, you will discover what you truly value in an employee. Once you write this love letter, you should have a better understanding of the type of team you want to have and culture you want to promote. Once you feel confident in what qualities you desire for your startup, you will be prepared to attract those desired employees to your startup.

What qualities do you desire in your future startup employees?

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Heather R. Huhman is a career expert, experienced hiring manager, and founder & president of Come Recommended, a content marketing and digital PR consultancy for job search and human resources technologies. She is also the author of Lies, Damned Lies & Internships (2011) and #ENTRYLEVELtweet: Taking Your Career from Classroom to Cubicle (2010). Find Heather on Google+.